Kids generally find mathematics a very difficult and sometimes less interesting than other subjects. However, if math is looked at from a different angle, it is actually one of the most interesting subjects there is. Some of the leading math tutoring centers like Mathnasium, try and instill interesting methods to learning math that students soon consider math as one of their favorite subjects.
Parents are usually put up with the task of tutoring their children at home, but rarely do we see parents spending time doing math with their children. In this article, we try and look at some ways to make math more interesting for kids.
Start Early
We may take for granted that kids will inevitably learn how to add, subtract, multiply and divide. However, starting early math lessons establishes the base for the rest of their thinking lives. “Mathematics that kids are doing in their kindergarten, first, second and third grades lays the foundation for the work they are going to do beyond that” says Linda Gojak, President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).
Work around Difficult Problems
Younger children are always eager to learn. If you had hated math as a child doesn’t necessarily mean your children will also hate it. Unless they are stuck in a difficult situation and you do not work with them to work around it, the child ends up avoiding such situations. You may have noticed, with younger children, they end up taking on difficult situations even though they might fail, provided you give them a gentle encouragement – like learning to walk, talk or run. Same is the case with math. If you talk negatively about the subject, they will eventually end up seeing it as negative.
If you are somehow stuck on how to foster math enthusiasm, talk to your child’s tutor about ways to support math learning at home. There are several ways to resolve the difficulty through games and role playing.
Games
With a large amount of facts and figures to memorize and apply to math problems, children learn early that math is one subject which does require a lot of work. That doesn’t mean that it cannot be fun – keep the pleasure in math by playing games with children. Many games, even ones which adults play, require a lot of practical math. With the technological growth, there are countless websites, social media apps etc which parents can look at to instill an interest in the subject.
Keep Testing
Riding a bike, swimming in the deep end, playing an instrument are examples of our favorite childhood activities that required lots of practice and effort to master. Same is the case with Math. The more you keep practicing, the more you start getting the hang of doing math.
“Math is an intellectual muscle building activity” – says Kevin Mahoney, math curriculum coordinator at Pennacre Country Day School in Wellesley, Mass. He goes on to say if math is something you only do at school, it stays that way and you lose interest. So, brush off those negative thoughts about math and instill enthusiasm. Math will definitely play a very important role in your child’s life forever.
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